Switch



L. A. RICE Jan. 6, 1959 SWITCH Filed May 15, 1956 'Lym an A. Rice 2 H13 Attorney United States Patent SWITCH Lyman A. Rice, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1956, Serial No. 584,986

8 Claims. (Cl. 20087) The present invention relates to electromagnetic switches and relays and more particularly to an improved switch structure that is economical to manufacture and which switch is formed of parts which are adapted for automatic assembly machines.

It is the object of the present invention to minimize the parts of an electromagnetic switch and to form and arrange the parts of the switch for assembly in an automatic machine. This object is accomplished by providing an elongated rivet which not only serves as a contact support but also secures a terminal for the switch to the base for the switch and by locating the armature stop on the armature so it will engage the support for the armature.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the stationary contact for an electromagnetic switch with a support which consists of an elongaged rivet which has an annular collar thereon and which rivet is peened over to hold a terminal in position on a base for the electromagnet. I

A still further object is to carry the stop for an armature of an electromagnet on the armature and to laminate the stop with a spring seat and a strip metal bimetallic hinge for the armature.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the electromagnetic switch according to the present invention with the cover for the switch removed.

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of the switch in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the switch in Fig. 1 with the switch cover removed.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective another modification of the switch in Fig. 1 when a separate armature spring is used.

In the drawings the relay is provided with a base 22 and a layer of insulating material 24. The relay includes a stationary contact assembly 26, an electromagnet assembly 28 and an armature assembly 30, all of which are carried on the base 24 which in turn is mounted on a support 38. The electromagnet assembly 28 includes a magnetic metal core 32 which is surrounded by the coil windings 34. The magnetic core 32 is formed with an extending portion that projects through suitable openings in the armature support 36, the insulating layer 24, the base 22, the support 38 and a terminal 40. The projecting portion of the core 32 is peened over as at 42 to secure the above parts together.

The armature assembly includes a part 44 of magnetic iron. Secured on one end of the part 44 is a movable contact 46 which is carried by a spring metal strip part 48. Laminated on the other end of part 44 is a bimetallic spring strip 50 which is secured by rivets 54.

ice

The part 50 is secured to a portion 56 on the armature support 36 by rivets 58. The stop 60 is formed integral with part 44 and extends over the spring strip 50 where it engages the strip 50 when the coil 34 is tie-energized. When the stop portion 60 is in engagement with the strip 50, the upward travel of armature part 44 is thus limited to a predetermined distance. Obviously this stop portion 60 can be bent relative to the remainder of the part 44 to accomplish the setting of the air gap of the regulator. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the stop 60 is formed *on a separate part 52 which is laminated with the spring strip 50 and the part 44. These three laminae are secured together by rivets 54. The stop portion 60 on member 52 also extends from the armature 44 and is arranged to engage the portion 56 and prevent upward movement of the armature 44 beyond a predetermined limit. This stop portion 60 of course can be adjusted by bending the part 52 to vary this limit.

The stationary contact assembly 26is preferably provided with a contact portion 62. This contact portion may be formed of silver tungstenor other suitable contact materials which are positioned and secured on the end of an elongated rivet 63. The rivet 63 has an annular collar 64 positioned intermediate its ends; so the portion of the elongated rivet 63 which projects downwardly from the annular collar may secure the rivet 63, the relay support 38, the part 24 and the terminal 66 to the base 22 when the end of the rivet is peened over as at 68. The rivet 63 is located on the base 22 so that the contact portion 62 will be engaged by the movable contact 46 when the armature 44 is attracted by the electromagnet 28.

As clearly seen in the drawings one end of the coil winding 34 may be secured to the metallic core 32 of the electromagnet 28. The other end of this coil winding 34 is secured to a suitably located terminal, not shown, through a lead 70.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings an arrangement whereby the stop 60 according to the present invention may be used with an externally adjustable spring 72 on the armature part 44 is shown. This spring 72, the adjustment therefor and its connection with the armature, is more clearly set forth in application 482,645 which has been assigned by the inventor Lyman A. Rice to the assignee of the present invention. When a separate spring 72 on the armature is used, the member 52 has its stop portion 60 preferably bifurcated as at 74 so that it may engage the bifurcated portions 76 of the hinge support 56. In this embodiment the armature part 44, the olmetal hinge 50, stop 52 and spring seat 78 are laminated and held in place by rivets 54. When this arrangement is used the tension on the armature may be varied by adjusting the tension of spring 72 to vary the effect of the electromagnet assembly 28 on the armature assembly 30 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art and which is set forth in the application supra.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electromagnetic switch comprising; a base, a support for said base, an electromagnet having an extending portion for securing; a support for an armature, a terminal and said base support to said base, an elongated rivet spaced from said electromagnet and having a stationary contact portion on one end and the other endarranged to secure said base support and a second terminal to the base, a movable contact on the armature arranged to engage said stationary portion of the rivet when said electromagnet is energized, and a strip metal hinge and a stop member laminated on said armature, said. strip metal hinge being secured to said armature asemoa and armature support and the .stop member being secured to said armature and extending across the armature support to engage the armature support for limiting the movement of said armature when the electromagnet is de-energized.

2. An electromagnetic .switch, comprising in combination; a base, a support for an armature for said -e'lectromagnet, an electromagnet havinga coil winding-with one endof the coil windingesecured to acore for said electromagnet, an extendingportion on'sai-d core 'for securing; a support for said base, the :support for said armature, and :a terminal for said switch to the base, an elongated rivethaving aniannula'rcollar intermediate its-ends, said rivet having talcontact portion-on .one end and its other extending .through said-base so the collar engages said baselfor holding a second terminal on said base,-a rnovable contact on visaid armature arranged to engage said:stationary portion of the .rivet when said electromagnet is energized, and a strip metal hinge, and

a stopmember laminated withsaid hinge on the armature, said strip metallhinge being secured to said armature-and armature support-'andlthe stop member being secured to said armature andextending'across a portion of the-armature support to engage the armature support for-limiting themovement of: said armature when the electromagnet .is dc-energized.

3. An electromagnetic switch comprising; a base, a

support for :saidbase, an electromagnet having an extending portion -for securing; a support foran armature having an armaturev supporting portion located substantiallyparallel with said base, a terminal and said base support'tosaid base,'an elongated rivet spaced from said electromagnet rand havingastationary contact portion on-one end and the other and arranged to secure said base support and a second terminal to the "baseya movablecontact on said armature 1 arranged to engage said stationary portion of the rivet'whensaid electromagnet .is energized-and a strip. metal hinge, astop member and a spring -.seat laminated with-the hinge on said armature, said strip metal hinge being secured to said-armature and armature support and the stop member being secured to 'said armature and extending across'said armature supporting. portion to engage the armature support for limiting the movement of said armature when the electromagnet is de-energized.

4. An electromagnetic switch, comprising in combination; a base, a support fortan armature for said electromagnet, said support having-an armature supporting portion located substantially vparallel with said base, an

electromagnet havinga coil Winding with one end of the coil winding secured to acore for said electromagnet, an extending portion on said core for securing; a support for said base, the support forsaid-armature,and'a terminal for said switch to the base,'an elongated rivet having an annular collar-intermediate its ends, said rivet having a contact portiononone end'and its other end extending through-said base so .the collar engages said base for holding a second terminal on said base, a movable contact on said armature arranged .to engage said stationary portion of the rivet when said electromagnet is energized,'and astriprnetal hinge, ta" spring seatand a stop member laminated. on said armature, said strip metal hinge being secured to said'armature and armature support and the stop member being secured to said armature and extending across said'armature supporting portion to engage the armature support for limiting the movement of said armature when the electromagnet is 'deenergized.

5. An electromagneticswitch comprising; a base, an

armature support and an electromagnet carriedby said moved in one direction by the electromagnet, a strip metal hinge element secured to the support and hingedly connecting the armature to the armature support, and a stop member laminated with the strip metal hinge element on the armature and engageable with the support for limiting the movement of the armature in a direction opposite said one direction.

6. An electromagnetic switch comprising; a base, an armature support member fixed to said base having an upwardly-extending portion terminating in an armature supporting portion that is substantially parallel to said base, a spring hinge member resting on and secured to said armature supporting portion, at least a portion of said spring hinge member overlying the greater portion of said armature supporting portion, an armature member carrying an electrical contact fixed to said spring hinge member, a fixed contact carried by said base and adapted to beengaged by-the contact-carried by said armature member, an electromagnet carried by said base for at- .tracting'said armature member to close said contacts,

andiastop portion formed as an integral extension of said armature member overlying said portion of said spring hinge :mernber'and armaturesupporting portion for en- :gagingisaid spring hinge member in one direction of movement of said armature-member to limit the movement of the :armature in the said one direction of movement.

7..An electromagnetic switch comprising; a base, an

velectromagnetsecured to said"base,-an-armature support member fixed to said basehaving an upwardly-extending portion terminating in an armature supporting portion -that. is substantially parallel to said base, .a spring hinge member resting on and secured to said armature supporting portion,rat least a portion of said spring hinge said.armaturemember'being secured to said spring hinge .memben-a fixed contact :carried by'said 'base and' adapted to .be' engaged :by the 'contact carrie'd by said armature member, and a stop member carried by said armature memberhaving a downwardly-extending portion that overlies said spring hinge member and armature supporting portion :and which operates to limit movement of said :armature in one direction of movement.

8. An electromagnetic switch comprising; a base, an electromagnet secured to said base, .an armature supporting assembly including a frame member having an armature supporting portion and a spring hinge member, means for securing said spring hinge member to said armature-supporting portion at a predetermined point of attachment located intermediate the length 'of the .armatureisupporting.portion,a relatively rigid armature member.resting on and secured to said 'spring hinge member adapted'to be attracted by said'electromagnet,

said ear-mature member having a first portion carrying an electrical contact that extends in one direction from the point of attachment of said spring hinge memberwith said armature supporting portion and having a second portion .thatsextends in an opposite'direction from-the said point of attachment and which extends across said armature :supporting portion, said second portion engaging said armature assembly in the area defined by said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mingle et al. Nov. 9, 1886 Kersten June 30, 1925 (Other references on following page UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,333 Mur h et al. ":pr. 12, 1949 1 591,13 Kent July 5 1925 2,519,093 Zoerlem I18- 0 1,785,852 Wilms Ct a1. Dec. 23, 1930 2,526,455 2,037,118 Chubbuck Apr. 14, 1936 H 2,542,174 Bando 20, 1951 2,048,623 Redinger July 21, 1936 2,788,412 Heath P 9, 1957 2,089,157 Aufiero Aug. 3, 1937 2,299,669 Werner 061. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,438,745 Fox Mar. 30, 1948 622,018 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1949 

